32 bit applications run on 64 bit system, the compatability is good just like it is in Windows Vista/7 64. Flash/Java were different, because they they get linked in browser, and under Windows 32 bit IE or FF is the norm because of that problem. The plugin actually isolates FF3 from Adobe mischief aiding browser stability.
Happened to look in store today, and basically the mass market is 64 bit machines, and windows takes less advantage of 64 bit, due to large number binaries which aren’t installed in 64 bit version. It is time to move on, and not FUD about unlikely problems, rather than take performance hit of keeping CPU in compatability mode. Reasons to dislike 32 bit :
fewer registers (can lead to much slower audio encoding for example)
3rd level page tables for NX bit & address todays large memories
Requirement for bounce buffers
gcc optimising for 20 yr old processor
Anything memory intensive (yes that includes the Liunux kernel) or most calculation intensive stuff (exception video encoding) shows real benefits in benchmark I seen.
The penalty for 64 bit addressing size is mere 10% in x86_64.
Broken applications that really don’t run on a 64 bit system, really need singling out for opprobium now, and if they’re old commercial ****, I’d rather use them virtualised than have to keep whole system on the 32 bit arch.
what do you mean with “exception video encoding”? Are you saying that video encoding doesn’t benefit speed-wise on 64bit systems? If so, you couldn’t be more wrong. x264 alone can gain up to 20% more speed just from switching from 32bit to a 64bit system. Tests have been done over and over and the same result comes up. Xvid behaves in a similar manner and 64bit is also better for DBs (especially large ones)
So i need please a clear answer…
A)Do i really have to make a clean install to make 64bit work properly? ( I remind that i have a 32 opensuse installed)… I am asking because i am wondering if an opensuse upgrade might work properly
B) My system has 4giga bytes of ram. If i am correct the only way for my system to work using the W H O L E 4gb ram is to use a 64 bit system. Right?
C) What are the most common problems for the most known application like KDE,amarok, openoffice under a 64bit kernel?
a) yes, it’s the safest option
b) no, you can use more than 4GB on 32bit system too, provided you install the PAE kernel
c) none, though some software may give you problems (like skype, ndiswrapper, etc)
B) My system has 4giga bytes of ram. If i am correct the only way for my system to work using the W H O L E 4gb ram is to use a 64 bit system. Right?
No, there is something called PAE which will allow 32-bit OSes to access more than 4GB of RAM. However it could be your motherboard hardware that prevents access to > 3GB or so, if you are not seeing all of memory.
C) What are the most common problems for the most known application like KDE,amarok, openoffice under a 64bit kernel?
For practically all open source software, the same problems as 32-bit if any, nothing to do with 64-bitness.
You could try the LiveCD to have a feel for it. It should look and feel the same and you won’t notice 64-bitness.
[QUOTE=robopensuse;2084760]32 bit applications run on 64 bit system, the compatability is good just like it is in Windows Vista/7 64.
QUOTE]
Yes I know, actually i am well aware that linux probably has the best 64bit support of any OS.
Its not running apps where the problem ;lays, its installing them.
Try to install something that only has a x86 version, it wont work under 64bit unless you install it with the terminal.
Now overall I know from many that running 64bit apps under linux is much better then running them under windows, but as for installing things its another story.
Agree, but using PAE has poorer performance, and melts down if you expand your RAM > 8 GiB. Linus has called PAE a mistake…
what do you mean with “exception video encoding”? Are you saying that video encoding doesn’t benefit speed-wise on 64bit systems? If so, you couldn’t be more wrong. x264 alone can gain up to 20% more speed just from switching from 32bit to a 64bit system. Tests have been done over and over and the same result comes up. Xvid behaves in a similar manner and 64bit is also better for DBs (especially large ones)
No I was referring to benchmarks I’d seen. 20% is alright, with audio benchmark I saw 100% benefit was obtained, with 10% being more typical But the video for whatever reason, didn’t improve much.
20% better CPU performance, would cost a large premium, compare mid-range CPU v top end. Just makes installing 64 bit if you can the way to go, if you care at all.
Hehe, i tried to change my arch from 64 bit to 32 bit on a live system but it didn’t work
Before the installation the system deletes everything so it deleted rpm without which i couldn’t install anything though i suspect if i would install 32 bit rpm first then i guess that would work and i could change the arch live.
That’s not at issue here. He asked if he can use > 4GB of RAM on 32-bit systems and the answer is yes with PAE. Whether performance is poor/degrades or not, that’s another question
No I was referring to benchmarks I’d seen. 20% is alright, with audio benchmark I saw 100% benefit was obtained, with 10% being more typical But the video for whatever reason, didn’t improve much.
20% better CPU performance, would cost a large premium, compare mid-range CPU v top end. Just makes installing 64 bit if you can the way to go, if you care at all.
“with exception of video encoding” implies that there’s no benefit at all when moving from 32 to 64 bit, which obviously is not the case. Whether that performance benefit is big or small, again, that’s another question.
